Abbott backs Kolkhorst in SD18 special election

AUSTIN — Gov.-elect Greg Abbott on Monday morning endorsed Lois Kolkhorst for the special election in state Senate District 18, cementing her position as the front-runner to replace incoming Comptroller Glenn Hegar.

Abbott, the outgoing attorney general, praised Kolkhorst, a Republican state representative from Brenham, for standing “shoulder to shoulder with our fellow conservatives – and my office – in the fight against federal government overreach.”

“Lois is a job creator, a proven conservative and a principled and effective public servant,” Abbott added in a news release. “During her time in the legislature, Lois has been a steadfast advocate for job creation, smaller government and a secure border.”

Kolkhorst has been lining up influential endorsements ahead of the Dec. 6 election. Last week, she won the endorsement of Hegar, who represented for two terms the largely rural district that stretches from outside Bexar and Harris counties down to near Corpus Christi.

Kolkhorst faces at least one serious competitor in Gary Gates, a GOP businessman from Fort Bend County. Another Republican and two Democrats are also on the ballot.